South African captain Graeme Smith shocked the cricketing world on Monday by announcing retirement from international cricket. He will quit the cricket at the end of the ongoing third test against Australia at Newlands.
The 33-year-old Smith has been regarded as one of the most talented batsmen of his generation announced this unexpected news on the third day of the third test against Australia.
“This has been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life. It`s a decision that I have been considering since my ankle surgery in April last year,” Smith said in a statement.
“I have a young family to consider, and I felt that retiring at Newlands would be the best way to end it because I have called this place home since I was 18 years-old,” he said.
Smith has played 117 tests of which he led his country in 109 tests. He has won 53 tests as skipper. He scored 9,262 test runs at an average of 48.49 with 27 hundreds and 38 half-centuries. His highest test score is 277 against England. He played 197 one-day internationals.
“I have been fortunate to have had many highs, amongst them leading and being part of the best test team in the world. I will cherish these memories for the rest of my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I bid my career a fond yet sad farewell,” Smith added.
Surprised South African Cricket board chief Haroon Lorgat praised Smith for his service to the game.
“Although Graeme’s decision to retire from all forms of international cricket comes as a surprise to all of us, we must respect him for deciding to call time,” Lorgat said.
“Knowing him as well as I do, having been instrumental as a selector in appointing him as a young captain, he would not have taken this decision lightly or without a great deal of thought. Following the recent retirement of Jacques Kallis from test cricket, there is no doubt that we are now ready to move into a new era and it is our job to build on the solid foundations that these great players leave behind,” Lorgat continued.
“I would like us to remember Graeme for his nerves of steel and his match-winning performances that were synonymous with some of the most remarkable fourth innings victory chases of all time…These included setting up the 414 runs chase against Australia at Perth and his series-clinching innings at Edgbaston in 2008, not to mention the unbeaten century the last time he faced Australia at Newlands in 2011,” Lorgat said.
“His role in setting up the famous 438 win over Australia in 2006 was also a performance never to be forgotten,” Lorgat added.
Tags: Cricket news CSA Graeme Smith Graeme Smith announces retirement Haroon Lorgat Jacques Kallis Newlands test South Africa South Africa vs Australia
